Thanks to mobile technology, Los Angelenos no longer have to choose between driving their own cars and paying expensive cab fares after a night out on the town.
Lyft, Uber, Sidecar, and similar companies connect drivers with riders via smartphone Apps. User feedback suggests that the easy-to-use Apps cut down on drunk driving as well as road congestion, Ian Lovett writes.
Newly-minted Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has championed the city's move away from its celebrated "culture of car ownership". But many taxi drivers aren’t happy with the App-based ride-share revolution. Last month, three App companies received cease-and-desist orders from the city, but cooperation has been minimal.
Safety is also a concern, at least for L.A.’s taxicab administrator. “I’m honestly worried for the drivers of those companies,” he said. “I have two daughters in their 20s, and I would never let them driver for those companies.”
Read the full story: Where Car Is King, Smartphones May Cut Traffic
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners
Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents
NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting
New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.
California appears to reject Prop. 45
The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
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Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
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